Notice of Decision to Grant a Sea Dumping Permit to Cruise Whitsundays Pty Ltd

NOTICE OF A DECISION TO GRANT A SEA DUMPING PERMIT UNDER THE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION (SEA DUMPING) ACT 1981

Pursuant to Section 25(b) of the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981, notice is hereby given that a permit was granted on 24 September 2012 under the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 pursuant to subsection 19(1) of the Act, to allow:

CRUISE WHITSUNDAYS PTY LTD (ACN  105 420 737) a company duly incorporated according to law and having its registered office at Shop 9, Abel Point Marina Village, Shingley Drive, Airlie Beach, Queensland 4802 , to load for the purpose of dumping at sea sewage and greywater associated with the operation of the 'Reefworld' tourist pontoon at Hardy Reef.

The conditions associated with the permit are as follows.

1. It is a condition of this permit that any requirements lawfully imposed by State Departments and agencies in areas under their jurisdiction relative to the transport and handling of the waste, are met.
2. The period of this permit commences on the date of approval of this permit and remains in force until the date of expiry of Marine Parks Permit G04/12559.2.
3. Matters relating to the operation of vessels and handling of wastes are to be undertaken to the satisfaction of relevant Commonwealth and State Government Agencies.
4. Vessels used in the loading, carrying and dumping of the wastes are to comply with all the relevant provisions of International Conventions to which Australia is a party.
5. All seals and equipment on all vessels used under this permit are to be maintained in proper adjustment and condition to minimise leakage of wastes on passage to the dump site.
6. The waste to be loaded and dumped comprises sewage and greywater and is to be in accordance with the material described in the permit application by Cruise Whitsundays Pty Ltd dated 12 July 2012.  Prior to any deviation from this description, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) is to be consulted.
7. The waste to be disposed at sea is to be derived from persons using the overnight accommodation facilities onboard the "Reefworld" Tourist Pontoon.
8. Dumping of wastes is to take place within dump site located in the Designated Shipping Area between Hardy Reef and the Whitsunday Islands Group as identified at Appendix 2.
9. Any additional monitoring, investigation or inspection which may be required in connection with this operation by the Commonwealth, including air and/or surface surveillance, and the provision of facilities mentioned in clauses 10 and 11 below, shall be at the cost of Cruise Whitsundays Pty Ltd.
10. Cruise Whitsundays Pty Ltd, if requested, will permit up to two Commonwealth Government officers access to witness, inspect or examine any part of the operations, including any monitoring activity or equipment, and the officers are to be provided with any necessary assistance in carrying out their duties. Cruise Whitsundays Pty Ltd will meet all costs for the attendance of Commonwealth Government officers including travel, accommodation and associated incidental expenses.
11. If duties specified in Clause 10 require the Commonwealth Government officers referred to above to go to sea, Cruise Whitsundays Pty Ltd is to provide food and accommodation of an acceptable standard incidental to the carrying out of the duties specified. Arrangements are to be made for Commonwealth Government officers, on completion of the duties, to be returned to a convenient Australian port.
12. Cruise Whitsundays Pty Ltd is to ensure that all persons in charge of vessels involved in the loading and dumping of wastes are fully conversant with the requirements of this permit and of the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 and that a copy of this permit is on display in a prominent location on the bridge of vessels involved in the loading and dumping of wastes.

Details of the permit may be obtained from Manager, Major Projects,  

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, PO Box 1379, Townsville, QLD, 4810 or telephone: (07) 4750 0700.

Andrew Skeat

General Manager

Marine Park Management

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

15 October 2012